The $39 Putting Mat That Actually Improved My Game

I will be honest. When I first saw the Putt-Out Pressure Putt Trainer on Amazon for $39, I thought it was a gimmick. A pressure putt trainer? For $39? It looks like a piece of plastic with a hole in it.

But my putting was terrible. I was averaging 36 putts per round. For a 15-handicap, that is about 4-5 too many. So I bought it.

Three weeks later, I am averaging 31 putts per round. That is five strokes per round. Five. Strokes.

Here is what happened.

What It Is

The Putt-Out Pressure Putt Trainer is a putting mat with a raised target. The target has a mechanism that returns the ball if you hit it too hard, and catches it if you hit it with the right pace. The idea is simple. Practice your pace, not just your line.

It comes in two sizes. The standard mat is 8 feet. The large is 10 feet. I got the 8-foot version because that is the length of most putts I actually face in a round.

The Drill That Actually Worked

I did not just roll putts at it. I did the gate drill.

I set up two tees about a foot in front of the ball, just wider than the ball. The ball has to pass through the tees to reach the hole. If my putter face is not square at impact, the ball hits a tee and deflects.

Five minutes a day. Every morning. For three weeks.

The first week, I hit the tees about half the time. By week two, I was hitting them maybe once every ten putts. By week three, I had not hit a tee in days.

On the course, my ball was starting on line. Not sometimes. Every time.

What I Did Not Like

The mat is thin. It does not simulate real green speed. It is probably a 9 on the Stimpmeter, and most courses I play are closer to 11. So the pace practice is not perfectly transferable.

But here is the thing. The line practice transfers. And for $39, I do not need it to be a perfect simulation. I need it to help me start the ball on line. It does that.

The Verdict

At $39, this is the best money you can spend on your putting. Period. If you are shooting 90 or above, this and a $25 set of alignment sticks is all you need. Skip the $500 launch monitor for now. Fix your putting first.

Five strokes in three weeks. I am not going back.